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Rams: No restrictions on Bradford

By WTOP Staff

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — At times, Sam Bradford forgot all about his surgically repaired left knee.

Except for a brace, the St. Louis Rams have no restrictions in training camp for their quarterback, either. The first overall pick of the 2010 draft missed the last nine games last season and is a key to a franchise seeking a breakthrough season.

“I feel great, my knee really feels good,” Bradford said after the first full-squad workout in unseasonably cool weather Friday night. “They feel good about having no limits.

“If it starts getting a little sore and we need to pull back we can always do that, but out of the gate I’m going to try to do everything.”

Coach Jeff Fisher said Bradford was so impressive in conditioning tests, he finished ahead of players who should have bested him.

“Guys that you would think would do a lot better. How does that sound?” outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar said, laughing. “We’ve got the general on offense back,”

Bradford was eased back into the mix during OTAs last month and became a full participant the final week. He realizes there might be a little more trepidation before the preseason opener, but added, “At this point, I haven’t noticed anything.”

During the month off for players, Bradford worked out with five young receivers to come to his home in Norman, Oklahoma, and footed the bill, too.

The Rams (7-9) are entering their third season under Fisher and general manager Les Snead and seeking a breakthrough for a franchise that hasn’t fielded a winning team since 2003.

“I’m going on Year 5 and there’s some guys in there that have been there longer than I have,” Bradford said. “No one steps on the field to lose. I think we want it just as bad as the city and fans do.”

A crowd estimated at 1,484 attended the workout with temperatures in the high 70s with a cooling breeze after a storm threatened for several hours but failed to materialize. Temperatures are expected to be back in the 90s for Day 2 Saturday.

Fans passed through a souvenir tent on the way to the field that featured two racks of Michael Sam jerseys for sale, along with single racks for Bradford, defensive ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long, and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis. Sam’s jersey is the Rams’ top seller.

Wide receiver Austin Pettis was the easiest player to spot on the first day, showing some fashion sense wearing red cleats and red socks. He said others at his position also have brightly colored cleats that be showing up during camp.

“We’re trying to add a little style to our outfits,” Pettis said. “I think a lot of people were just admiring them, you might say. Hopefully, they helped me out.”

Dunbar was perhaps the most relieved player to get camp underway. Dunbar was arrested for disorderly conduct early Sunday after an altercation that included NBA player Donte Green, and has Fisher on his side after explaining the situation.

Dunbar said he couldn’t discuss specifics because the case is pending.

“It was unfortunate but hopefully we can just get past it and move on,” Dunbar said. “I’m happy to be back, happy to be playing football and happy to be doing something I’d rather be doing.”

Dunbar reported at 227 pounds, a 13-pound drop from last year, in an effort to improve on pass coverage.

Rookies arrived Monday and had two workouts before the veterans joined in.

“It helped tremendously,” said running back Tre Mason, a third-round pick. “We weren’t just thrown out there with the vets and lost.”

Offensive lineman Greg Robinson, the second overall pick, is getting work at guard and tackle early in camp while tackle Jake Long rehabs from knee surgery. Fisher expects Long to be ready for the opener but for now said he’ll be moving linemen around.

___

Online:

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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